Manolo for the Big Girl

Francesca has never heard of the “Cyber Monday” until this year, but whatever! The important thing is that the sales are ebbing down.

First, the Most Exciting Sale in Francesca’s opinion:

Sydney’s Closet will take 30% off your entire order of $99 or higher, with code THANKS09, ending tomorrow.  Wedding dresses here. Prom dresses here.

Francesca cannot emphasize enough: Even though it is now November, the June, it will come around again, with its proms, weddings, graduation parties, etc. If you are engaged, or graduating from high school, or have a family member or friend who will be hosting the formal bash this summer, you can save the monies by purchasing your outfit now, when you can get 30% off. All the wedding dresses here are from Sydney’s Closet. Francesca loves.

Always for Me will give you free shipping on orders of $75 or more today (within continental United States), with code earlybird75.

Ashley Stewart’s entire site is 30% off. Francesca does not know when this ends. Their clothes are very good, and there are pretty accessories on sale here. Also today, online only, they are announcing different sales/discounts every three hours from 6 am – 9 pm EST.

Avenue will take 30% off your entire purchase today with code AV91158. This code also works at Jessica London.

Catherines‘  Holiday Madness sale ends tomorrow.

Evans “20% off Everything” ends today.

JC Penney is having a big “cyber sale.” Plus-size women’s apparel is here.

Peggy Lutz is having a huge sale in all departments (Couture, Classics, and Outlet) ending today.

Roaman’s will take 50% off your highest priced item today with code RD50%SALE

Shoe Mall will take 20% off your order today with code SHOEMALL. (Brands excluded: Camper, Ecco, Geox, Globe, Harley-Davidson, Minnetonka)

SWAK Designs has two codes for you, ending tomorrow: BF35 will take 35% off regularly-priced items, and BFSALE25 will take 25% off sale and clearance items. Their pashminas make a nice gift.

Torrid has taken 50% off clearance items, and is having a big Holiday sale. No ending date is specified. Francesca found Halloween costumes selling for under $17 in clearance, and cute accessories for the edgy teen or earnest tween girl here. Francesca’s pick for your 8th-grade niece: Betsey Johnson Betseyville tote bag on deep discount (or for you. Francesca harbors a deep, deep love for Betsey Johnson, since she herself was in 8th grade). Or play it safe with Twilight paraphernalia here.

Zaftique is holding the Holiday Clearance Sale through December 14.

The American Independence Day, it approaches, and Francesca knows how much the patriotic Americans love to dress on this day in outfits which evoke their flag! Hooray for the Red, White and Blue, Francesca says. But there is a Right way, and a Wrong way. Rule of thumb: if you are an adult and you would ONLY wear the outfit on the Fourth of July, it is probably a Wrong (little children are exceptions, and it is OK to wear ONE kitschy novelty item IF a Very Cheerful Relative offers you one). If you would wear it on August 10th, it is fine. For example:

Do:

Don’t:

Do (for a very informal family gathering):

Don’t:

Do:

Don’t:

Do:

Don’t:

Internet friend Sarah, from Fort Madison, Iowa, wrote:

I’ve recently begun seriously incorporating regular exercise into my routine.  I have workout clothes but, they are largely of the shapeless, tent like t-shirt variety.  Though I always feel fabulous after working out, motivating myself to hit the gym is hard enough in the first place; I’d like to feel fashionable while walking or doing aerobics.  Can you recommend any sellers of cute, plus-sized workout clothing?

Francesca says:

But of course I can!

If you wear size 1x or a small 2x, start with Athleta. Check the sizing charts carefully as they leave little wiggle room, literally. Gym/training clothes are here. Francesca likes their skorts.

For higher sizes, or simply more options, you can also try the cotton tanks or light shirts at Shop Avenue.com, Old Navy, or Roaman’s (who are currently having a “buy 2, get 1 free” sale on tanks, tees, shorts and capris!) Lane Bryant is selling sporty tops at 2 for $25.

Remember that an outfit does not have to be labeled as an exercise outfit to become your exercise outfit. Choose something cotton and light and fun for you to move in.

One might also try Woman Within, but Francesca finds their wares frumpy AND they turned us down for an affiliate partnership, so boo on them! However, one never knows and the important thing is that we all exercise and look superfabulous doing it!

Good luck!

PS Remember to wear sunscreen and a hat when you are walking in sunny climates!

It’s one of Newton’s laws that an object in motion will stay in motion until acted upon by outside forces. This holds particularly true if said object is an enormous plate of spaghetti and meatballs and the outside force is a white silk shantung dress with enormous cobalt blue polkadots.

Sigh.

Spaghetti Incidents notwithstanding, I have a long and well-established love affair with white dresses, stemming from one movie:

Of course La Liz is wearing a slip on the poster, but the white dress she wore through the majority of the film sold me on them forever.

Actually, let’s see a little more of that, shall we?

There, that’s better.  Oof.

ANYHOODLE

There is something magnificent about an unapologetically white dress. Whenever I see a woman in a white dress or suit I automatically think “there’s a woman I’d like to know.”   But being unapologetic doesn’t necessarily mean fussy.

Every girl should have a white linen dress hanging in their closet.

I positively lived in mine last summer (I wish I could remember where I bought it, it was floor length and divine) and I’ll definitely be scooping this one up, on crazy sale for fifteen dollars. I love the fagoting on the front: totally subtle, yet juuust edgy enough to keep it from being too sweet.

Notice this is a woman’s petite, so if you’re tall this will be shorter on you. I’m 5′10″ so I expect it to hit just below the knee, which is fine by me. Also, I know some of you aren’t on board with the linen thing. The trick is to get a heavier linen, or a linen/silk blend and make sure it has a nice lining. They won’t wrinkle as much and if they do, who cares? It’s linen.

Those shoes? Really? Okay then.

I like this for our younger big girls who might be intimidated by a floor-length white dress. It’s…cute. This is dress you wear when you’re 23 and going on a little brunchy lunchy thing with girlfriends on a Saturday afternoon, or when your significant other’s parents come in to town and you want to look cute but also send the subliminal message that you’re a Good Girl and not REALLY doing Unspeakably Filthy Things to their pride and joy.

I think this is more of an ivory, but I really like it so I’m counting it anyway. It breaks my heart to say it –since it’s from Miss Tina, of House of Dereon and Svengali Mother of Beyonce fame– but this? This is a good dress.  It’s actually on the short list of my possible Easter dresses.

Sigh. I’m so ashamed.

I don’t care that Igigi says it’s a wedding dress. I’m buying it and I’m going to wear it with a statement shoe and colorful kid leather shortie gloves or a red snakeskin cuff (got to toughen it up) and I’m going to look fierce. I’m just not going to eat the spaghetti.